Disposable diaper

ABSTRACT

A diaper having a longitudinal axis, lateral margins, front and back waistline portions with a crotch portion therebetween, an inner surface for contact with the wearer and an outer surface. A longitudinally extending fold is provided on each side of the diaper axis and a portion of the outer surface in the diaper crotch portion adjacent one of the folds is secured to a similarly disposed outer surface portion adjacent the other fold.

United States Patent [191 Schaar Oct. 21, 1975 DISPOSABLE DIAPER 3,729,005 4/1973 Lee et al 128/287 Inventor: Charles H. Schaar Lake Zurich, I". 3,731,688 5/1973 Litt et al l28/287 [73] Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, New FOREIGN PATENTS O APPLICATIONS York 529,966 7/1954 Belgium 128/284 Filedi 1973 Primary ExaminerRichard'A. Gaudet [211 App] No: 421,157 Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko 57 AB TRA T [52] US. Cl. 128/287 C 511 Int. Cl. A6lf 13/16 A havmg a mgltudmal ateral margms, [58] Field of Search. 284 286 front and back waistline portions with a crotch portion therebetween, an inner surface for contact with the [56] References Cited wearer and an outer surface. A longitudinally extending fold is provided on each side of the diaper axis and UNITED STATES PATENTS a portion of the outer surface in the diaper crotch por- 2,800,906 7/1957 H nton 128/287 X i adjacent one of the folds isvsecured to a Similarly g g a1 disposed outer surface portion adjacent the other fold. 3,653,382 4/1972 Easley et al 128/284 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 DISPOSABLE DIAPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to diapers, the improvements described herein being particularly suitable for incorporation into disposable diapers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a diaper which is tapered in the diaper crotch region to provide agood fit of the diaper on an infant, which provides a relatively large volume of absorbent body in the diaper crotch region, and which is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

According to the present invention improvements are provided in a diaper which has a longitudinal axis, lateral margins, front and back waistline portions with a crotch portion therebetween, an inner surface for contact with the infant, and an outer surface. The improvements comprise the provision of longitudinally extending folds on each side of the diapers longitudinal axis with a portion of the diaper outer surface in the diaper crotch region adjacent one of the folds being secured to a similarly disposed outer surface portion adjacent the other of the folds. In preferred embodiments of the invention each of the folds is substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the diaper and one of the diaper lateral margins; adhesive-bearing tape is used to secure the outer surface portions to each other; those outer surface portions adjacent each of the folds are substantially in contact with each other; and the diaper is of the disposable variety including a water impervious backing sheet, the exposed surface of which provides the outer diaper surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description of a particular preferred embodiment taken together with the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the diaper constructed according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the diaper crotch portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a diaper comprises an absorbent body 12 (e.g., conventional fluff) sandwiched between an outer water impervious plastic backing sheet 14 and an inner liner 16. The diaper is provided with a fold 18, along the diaper longitudinal axis, which bends away from the liner l6. Longitudinally extending folds 20, 22 are disposed substantially midway between the longitudinal axis and the associated diaper lateral margin 24, 26. Each of the folds 20, 22 bends toward the liner 16. In the longitudinally central, crotch portion of the diaper, the folds 20, 22 are constrained so as to taper or pinch in the diaper in the crotch portion. This constraint is accomplished by securing a portion of the outer surface of the backing sheet 14 adjacent the fold line 20 to a similar portion adjacent the fold line 22. As best seen in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment this is accomplished by means of a piece of adhesivebearing tape 28 secured to the plastic sheet 14 adjacent each of the fold lines 20, 22 so as to bring those folds substantially into contact in the crotch portion of the diaper. In the same crotch portion, regions of the liner 16, which forms the diapers inner surface, may be secured to each other as by lines of adhesive 30.

In operation, the waistline portions 32, 34 of the diaper may be fanned out to apply the diaper to the infant with the arrangement of longitudinal folds and the tape 28 cooperating to assure both a tapering of the diaper in the crotch region and the provision of multiple layers of the absorbent body 12 adjacent the infant in the crotch region of the diaper. The lines of glue 30 assist in the flattening out of a central loop 36 of the diaper which is produced by the constraint of tape 28.

Various other means could, of course, be substituted for the tape 28. Also, varying degrees of taper and absorbent capacity in the crotch region can be achieved by altering the lateral location of the fold lines 20, 22 and by varying the separation of the fold lines 20, 22, as constrained, in the diaper crotch portion.

While a particular preferred embodiment has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail herein, other embodiments are within the scope of the invention and the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a diaper having a longitudinal axis, lateral margins, front and back waistline regions with a crotch region therebetween, an inner surface for contact with the wearer and an outer surface, the improvement comprising the provision of a longitudinally extending fold on each side of said axis at a predetermined distance from said axis, a portion of said diaper in said crotch region adjacent one of said folds being secured to a similarly disposed outer surface portion adjacent the other fold, whereby in said crotch region said fold lines are restrained to a maximum separation which is less than the sum of said predetermined distances, said fold lines being unrestrained in said waistline regions.

2. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said fold is disposed substantially midway between said longitudinal axis and a diaper lateral margin.

3. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said diaper includes an outer water impervious backing sheet, an exposed surface of said sheet forming said outer diaper surface, said outer diaper surface portions being secured by a piece of adhesive-bearing tape secured to said water impervious sheet adjacent each said fold.

4. A diaper as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said fold is substantially equidistant from said longitudinal axis and a diaper lateral margin.

5. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said folds are substantially in contact in said crotch portion. 

1. In a diaper having a longitudinal axis, lateral margins, front and back waistline regions with a crotch region therebetween, an inner surface for contact with the wearer and an outer surface, the improvement comprising the provision of a longitudinally extending fold on each side of said axis at a predetermined distance from said axis, a portion of said diaper in said crotch region adjacent one of said folds being secured to a similarly disposed outer surface portion adjacent the other fold, whereby in said crotch region said fold lines are restrained to a maximum separation which is less than the sum of said predetermined distances, said fold lines being unrestrained in said waistline regions.
 2. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said fold is disposed substantially midway between said longitudinal axis and a diaper lateral margin.
 3. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said diaper includes an outer water impervious backing sheet, an exposed surface of said sheet forming said outer diaper surface, said outer diaper surface portions being secured by a piece of adhesive-bearing tape secured to said water impervious sheet adjacent each said fold.
 4. A diaper as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said fold is substantially equidistant from said longitudinal axis and a diaper lateral margin.
 5. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said folds are substantially in contact in said crotch portion. 